Tales of the good old days offer Toon fans little comfort
The Entertainers were back in Newcastle last night but despite some memorable tales of yesteryear it could only lift the gloom temporarily as anxiety still pollutes the Tyneside air.
Revelations of why Rob Lee snubbed a move to Middlesbrough, the day John Beresford clashed with Kevin Keegan on the touchline and what happened when Brian Kilcline had his hair chopped by a phantom hairdresser on a club tour to Cyprus were all up for discussion.
Yet once the merriement dies down, Newcastle fans were facing up to reality today.
The Chronicle would never speak on behalf of the fans but you strongly detect that Toon fans are increasingly concerned that current squad lacks depth.
An experienced central defender surely is a must for United and while the full-back department, boosted by Habib Beye's bright promise, isn't a priority, the engine room is a major concern.
With Emre gone, Joey Barton in limbo - Newcastle have just Geremi and Nicky Butt as contenders as it stands.
Butt surely can't go on forever in the middle despite two seasons of personal success in which the player stuck two fingers up to critics who didn't want him back on board.
As far as wingers go, Newcastle can at least say there is competition for places.
The only signing of the summer so far, in Jonas Gutierrez goes in with Damien Duff, James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia to do battle for the wing king slots out wide.
With a bit of luck they'll be providing the bullets for Michael Owen, who must still sign a new deal, and Oba Martins, also sporting a question mark over his head in terms of a contract.
Mark Viduka starts the season with injury, while young gun Andy Carroll will be aiming to force a way in if he doesn't get farmed out on loan.
Then you have Alan Smith.
You can't say Smith doesn't give it his all but the lack of goals from Smudge is the real concern.
Last season he was fielded in several different positions but when KK played him alongside Owen, he still couldn't get on the scoresheet.
And there you have it, that's pretty much the situation as it stands with six weeks or so left of the transfer window.
Judgements become more intense as the pre-season games are ticked off and then it's into the real stuff.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Everything you say is spot on. We need reinforcements in every area except the flanks. I'd say two central defenders, two fullbacks, two central midfielders & one maybe two forwards!! Scary & the silence is deafening.
Hi Lee,
I do see your concern and am a little myself somewhat like many other fans i would say, but i also have a sneaky suspicion we will be ok and perhaps theres more going on then we are told. Perhaps we should have a little more faith in KK as he done ok last time didnt he.
I think signings will come and maybe its a gd thing we are not buying willy nilly just for the sake of it as we have done that way to often in recent years and well that hasn't got us very far has it.
I for one trust the club under kk and i think he's def the man for the job. I also think all the stuff going about of late about MA wanting to sell etc is maybe just to make it look different to how things actully are. This could be for various reasons ie to keep players prices down for one as in the past we have paid over the odds etc, and if people think the investment is not there so much then maybe we wont pay as much as we have in recent times.
Im not sure if i have made sense but i hope you know what i mean, as i have tried to explain as best as i can. Remmember MA is no fool he wouldnt have what he does if he was.
Anyhow heres wishing us the best for the new season,howay the lads...bring it on....
best wishes Lee C
It's centre midfield which is my major concern. We'll be torn apart if we start the season with Butt and Geremi in there. The addition of Jonas is excellent and I'm looking forward to seeing him play. At this point I'm looking at our potential first day line up, excluding players with the question marks over their heads:
Given/Harper
Beye | Faye | Taylor | Enrique
Jonas | Butt | Geremi | Duff
Smith | Owen
I'd change at least two of those four midfielders. If N'Zogbia is staying, then for me he deserves a stint on the left wing. As for the centre midfield problem, I will continue to scream Pablo Aimar's name from the rooftops until he either signs for us, or (more likely I reckon) signs for someone else after we drag our feet. I think we need two or three midfielders, but Aimar would be first for me.
I see we're linked with Seb Larsson again. I admit to not watching Birmingham much at all last season, but didn't he play on the right wing quite a bit? I know little about him, so would be interested to know more about him. If he does play on the right, surely centre midfield and centre back are higher priorities.
We must tie up Owen & Martins on these new deals, but I don't see Ashley giving Oba anywhere near the ã80k a week he's apparently looking for. I'd like him to stay, but if he does indeed leave, a cheeky bid for Javier Saviola would be worthwhile in my opinion. Still a good age, lively pace and a good finisher. His career seems to have stalled since Rijkaard's days at Barcelona, so he's probably eager to prove his class having failed to make a major impact since his switch to Real Madrid.
While I agree in principle with the new goal of younger, hungry players on reasonable wages, I don't think that we should paint all players over 25 with the same brush. If quality experienced players become available, they shouldn't be ruled out just because they're 28 or 29.
The bottom line though is that we need some quality additions, not just quantity, and I hope we can get them before the opening day.
WE'd be better off sending Smith out on loan and giving young Mr Carroll his shirt and place in the first team squad. After all he has nowt to beat and can enjoy any chances that come his way, relaxed in the knowledge he can't fail to be an improvement!
hi lee, Is there any kind of possible signings in the pipe line for newcastle? Its been very depressing as each day passes without anything happening. Our squad is very very weak, especially as you have said in midfield, we also need cover at full back positions. I think to improve on last season we need another 4 top quality players. Please give me some kind of transfer rumor i can think about.
Ah well be fine.If Keegan isnt getting what he wants he will walk.The key thing is he is still there.We trust Keegan.Implicitly.If he were to walk,then i would begin to worry....
"You can't say Smith doesn't give it his all but the lack of goals from Smudge is the real concern."
The trouble is, he has no guile and, to be honest, sometimes he doesn't give his all. As long as he's on the field, there's someone better on the bench. We all know this; the issue doesn't need fudging. He's not worth the money he gets. The overwhelming reaction towards him on this blog is negative and justifiably so. He maybe be worth good copy and be prepared to be "versatile" in his interviews with your colleague, but he should never have been signed.
Lets be honest with ourselves here. We are not going to get 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and a striker. The alarm bells are ringing when Keegan talks about keeping players as the biggest job this season and what owner have you heard of that comes in and decimates our team to cut the wage bill. I agree it was too high for the players we had but surely we should get new players in to take there place of similar "stature". They say you have to bet big to win big and thats what we have to do. Newcastle are no Arsenal and never will be. We are a buying club and deserve a bit more than one Argentine and a 15 year old. I know its early but I am seriously worried, i dont doubt the management team, i doubt the owner running this club like a sports shop.
Again, there is plenty of time before the season starts. Not many other teams have made a significant number of signings aand the oens that have, have often over-paid e.g Digard for 7.5 million, no wonder the toon didnt lodge a concrete bid!
If by 2 weeks before the curtain opener we're still at the same squad numbers, then yes...we should be worried. But as for now, we need to keep the faith that we will bring in signings.
What i'm more worried about Lee, is Mike Ashleys comments to the Evening Standard:
"Im not looking to sell. I am looking for partners in Newcastle"
... screams lack of funds for me, fellow investment partner? What do you think Lee?
If I were KK I'd try and get some of the old 'entertainers' out of retirement 'cos the way things are looking there wont be too many new players joining anytime soon. I'd have a 50 yr old Rob Lee in midfield anyday over barton/geremi or butt.
Unless there are ongoing negotiations behind the scenes for new players our small squad wont survive next season.
There's no 'concern' over Smith. He's an absolutely useless player and we all knew that long before Fat Sam decided he'd be right at home in his abysmal brand of football.
Forget strikers,it's midfield where we are painfully thin.Sidwell would have been an ideal replacement for Barton and being realistic that's as high as we can aim for.Always liked Jimmy Bulhard but we need a Huddlestone or Carrick to open the door and all three are realistic captures
I've heard of quite a few people who know there football that we are infact the team who put the mystery ã24 million bid ib for Arshavin. Any truth in this, please say yes Lee.
hi Lee
I'm surprised you have chosen not to comment on Ashley finally admitting he is looking for investors - city speak for a buyer. You have tended to dismiss this a some southern media -anti nufc conspiracy.
Maybe todays mildly critical blog is a sign that you have finally smelled the coffee -there is something not write with this current owner/ regeime. I have thought for a long time that the appointment of KK and the wearing an nufc top is a cheap /cynical ploy to distract from a short term slash and burn approach to nufc. Arguably the sooner he makes his 'wedge' and moves on the better.
Lordy! Why don't we just throw in the towel now? I mean, it's not worth starting the season is it? I'm sick to the back teeth of all this doom mongering. Could it be that our local hacks are joining the ranks of the gutter press and latching onto any opportunity to slag the club off or are they merely trying to provoke adverse reactions from the fans, some of whom seem quite vulnerable to the power of negative suggestion. What do you want for God sakes? Keegan telling the press on a daily basis who he is after, who he'd like & who he didn't get? Like that's going to happen. Leave Keegan to get on with his job and have a bit of faith. Lets all try and be a tad more positive in our postings eh? It could be worse. We could support Luton!
Whilst Spiderman is a good ground step in the transfer market, he wonâÂÂt suffice as the squad is way, way, way too small. Newcastle United are a club that just seems to attract problems in the treatment room, so if we were to get a couple of injuries, weâÂÂd be really pushing it.
Joey Barton doesnâÂÂt help and the thought of relying on Geremi and Butt to control the middle of the park terrifies me. So a central midfielder is an absolute must, a box to box man who will get you 10 goals a season without worry and assist in supplying a few along the way.
IâÂÂm also concerned that we seem to have lost our ability at set-pieces, we are after all a small side height wise and we donâÂÂt possess anyone of real note who can take a free-kick except Geremi. Remember in 2002, we had Alan Shearer, Laurent Robert and Nobby Solano to take the kicks and then Gary Speed, Nikos Dabizas, Shearer himself and even Andy OâÂÂBrien were floating around looking to score thereafter. My how times have changed. It wonâÂÂt be enough to have Jonas Gutierrez and Geremi fighting over the set-pieces, especially as I have little confidence in Geremi.
Whilst having great deadball kick takers, doesnâÂÂt make a great side, it will ensure that sides will be frightened to touch any Newcastle player getting anywhere near the penalty area, so it can only enhance the side from last season.
Allardyce had the side set-up not to attack, but Kevin Keegan will at least ensure that we will be on the front foot in the majority of games for a certain period of the game, so sorting the set-pieces out is priority.
All great sides have a danger man in every position and a man that can get a goal from anywhere, Newcastle donâÂÂt have that guarantee anymore.
More (QUALITY) signings needed.
Paul.
This is exactly right. We seem to be far too cautious in the transfer market. Yes we have to be sensible but they are players proven out there that we don't seem to be in the frame to buy. Like Sir Les said this week, KK needs to be playing a part in this process, I really hopes he his, because when they meet him they will want to sign! Whats happening with Aimar??
Why on earth haven't we sold Smith yet?
Mike Ashley needs to realise that by standing still in the transfer market, the club is actually going backwards.
I wonder if he has ever thought how much NUFC would be worth were they to be relegated, because fom where I am sitting, that looks to be a real possibility with the present squad of players.
You need to speculate to accumalte in this game Mike!
i am sick of all the flack smithy gets, he would be the 1st to admit he,s not the most gifted, but this lad gives 101% every time he goes on the pitch, he has never been giving a good run in one postion, but this lad never causes any problems for the gaffer when called on,i.e dyer& bellamy to name a few, he never feigns injury i.e the list would be endless, the lad never appears on front pages of newspapers for wrong reasons , i dont think i have to go there, fine he's not the most gifted but he's got a passion to play which we need.
lets get behind him because i for one think we need him more than he needs us, and he will start to score and get plenty of assists for owen/martins.
we need to be offloading viduka if anyone ,history of being on the sickbed.
we need a playmaker, bullard would do for me and alonso if liverpool want rid,
shorey and steve hunt for defence , beye would do a great job in middle of defence if needed.
it's time to get behind smithy, we gave butt a chance
Come off it Dave Robson, he simply isn't good enough. 100% OF NOTHING IS NOTHING!!. Smudger couldn't score in a warehouse...or is that a ...never mind, it's a liability to keep him. Goodness forbid if he ever scores one goal, you Smudge pushers will demand a testimonial for him every month. The boy is hapless and sackless though I still like his effort. Two good and well-priced defenders, two midfielders and two strikers will be the only chance we have of securing a top six place this season, and woe-betide any injuries. I still believe in Edgar, Carroll and Kazenga as genuine prospects given the chance, but we seriously need reinforcements.
"it's time to get behind smithy, we gave butt a chance"
Good lord. I could give 101% but I shouldn't be playing for a top flight football club. How naive can you be? He gives a 101% of third rate football.
ron lambert THE ONLY CHANCE OF TOP SIX FINISH IS NO CHANCE, WE ARE MILES BEHIND THE POMPEYS , EVERTONS, A VILLA'S OF THIS WORLD, GITJRIE DO ME A FAVOUR THE LIVERPOOLS OF THIS WORLD DONT LET PLAYERS GO IF THEY GOT SOMETHING ABOUT THEM, ITS BEEN COMING FOR AGES NOW, WERE GONNA HAVE A BIG STRUGGLE THIS SEASON, BUT I FOR ONE WILL GET BEHIND SMITHY , WE HAVE GOT A LOT WORSE STILL HERE
A team full of Smiths would see us relegated. Wake up and smell the coffee. But, there are others who ought to go. Duff doesn't even show Smith's interest.
what a gruesome shot